Please join the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative for a seminar presented by Jeff Steevens, Research Toxicologist with the US Geological Survey at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
The title of his talk is "Are Ecotoxicologists Failing to Protect Aquatic Biodiversity?"
Please RSVP if you plan to attend the talk. Sandwiches will be provided.
Abstract: The effects of contaminants on aquatic organisms are commonly assessed using a combination of bioavailability models, toxicity thresholds, and laboratory bioassays. This lecture aims to question the use of these approaches and their potential for underestimating contaminant risk and injury for sensitive and “at risk” aquatic species. A series of examples from real-world contaminated sites will be used to examine how chemical bioavailability and organism functional traits may influence their sensitivity to contaminants.
Bio: Jeff Steevens is a Research Toxicologist with the US Geological Survey at the Columbia Environmental Research Center in Columbia, MO since 2016. Prior to that, he was a Senior Scientist in Biotechnology for the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center. His broad research interests include the bioavailability and aquatic toxicity of environmental contaminants including metals, major ions, and emerging contaminants such as nanomaterials, PFAS and tire wear chemicals. Jeff supports the Department of Interior by applying his research within ecological risk assessment and natural resource damage assessment and restoration at contaminated sites across North America.
Originally published at environmentalchange.nd.edu.